Young Linnet Oscar Thomas makes step up to first team

King's Lynn Town goalkeeper Oscar Thomas has joined the first-team squad for the new season, stepping up from the Linnets' academy.

Oscar joined the academy back in 2022 at just 15 years old. He's spent the whole of pre-season working alongside Linnets number one Ronnie Hollingshead and first-team goalkeeping coach Shaun Allen, and featured in several pre-season fixtures, including games against Fakenham Town and Wroxham.

King's Lynn Town's academy will compete in the National League U19 Alliance Division A this season - with the senior squad playing in the Enterprise National League North.

The Linnets grabbed their first win of the 2026/27 season on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win away at Brackley Town.

First Team Manager Paul Caddis had this to say on Oscar's promotion: "I'm really pleased to have signed Oscar, who has come through our academy and earned the opportunity to become part of our first-team group.

"Oscar has trained with us throughout pre-season and improved session by session. In particular, I've seen a big development in him since he started working with our new goalkeeper coach, Shaun Allen, who's played a big part in his progression.

"It's really important to me that we have a genuine pathway for our young academy players into the first team. The National League North is an extremely difficult division with a very high standard of players.

"But I'll always be willing to give academy players an opportunity when they're good enough and have earned the right to be around the first-team environment. Oscar has done exactly that.

"He'll continue to feature for our Under-23s to make sure he gets regular football and keeps developing, but he deserves to remain part of our first-team group and experience the demands of senior football."

Academy shadow manager Tony Leggett added: "It's fantastic to see one of our academy goalkeepers earn his place in the first-team squad. 

"He's a polite, respectful young man who has always shown a real willingness to learn and improve. His attitude, work ethic and commitment have been excellent throughout his time with us.

"I'm really pleased to see his hard work paying off and to see him rewarded with this opportunity. Hopefully this is just the beginning of what will be a fantastic journey, and we look forward to supporting him as he continues to develop his career at King's Lynn Town."